MOD4 - MODULAR ORIGAMI - SUN OR 16-POINT STAR (2 ASSEMBLY METHODS - FROM 16 SQUARES)

This "Sun" or "16-point Star" is from the Aveuglami website at aveuglami.fr, the home of The Aveuglami Project.

Original text for this model in French, copyright Michel Lucas.

aveuglami.fr

    Folded with the friendly help  of Google Translate.

Designer/Creator: Unknown/Traditional

Paper to be used: 16 squares, any size; use large paper to practice with at first.

Folding level: Easy/Beginner

Steps: Assembly Method 1 - 19; Assembly Method 2 - 24.

Description: This is a modular origami model, meaning that it is made up of different, similar folded units, which are fitted together to form the finished model.

It is a beautiful flat or 2D decoration, resembling a star with 16 sharp points. 

The center of the model is a large, open circle, hence it also resembles the sun.

Remarks:

This is a great project for those who would like to start making models using modular origami.

It attempts to introduce the basic concepts, methods and phases of folding and assembling a modular origami project.

The units are fairly easy to fold.

When you have become familiar with assembling the units, you might like to try and use more than one color when designing your modular star.

This model makes a wonderful decoration for all occasions, especially when folded from shiny or metallic colors.

It may be helpful to place your finished model flat on a hard surface under a heavy object like a thick book. This will help to flatten the creases, which will not only result in a better-looking model, but will help the units settle and stay together.

This model has 2 options for its assembly.

Assembly Method 1 is the traditional method. It is reversible, thus the same on both sides. It is also easier, but less secure, due to the modules being inserted, but not being locked in place using this method.

So, it may be great for perhaps gluing it to a surface once the design is complete.

Assembly Method 2 is an alternative to the first, producing a star that is different on each side, with a front side   that results in the rays  of the star having a smooth, polished look and texture.

The assembly in this case takes slightly longer, but it is secure enough that you can use the model as a gift or decoration without glue.

PHASE 1: CREATING THE UNITS

You will be folding 16 similar units to form your star.

It is recommended that you fold all 16 pieces before attempting Phase 3, which will explain how to fit the pieces together to form the finished model.

If using two-sided origami paper, lay your paper with the patterned or colored side down before starting to fold.

Step 1

Place a square  on your work surface and position it so that the edges are facing up and down, left and right.

Step 2

Bring the right edge over to meet the left edge. Crease and leave folded to form a rectangle.

Note that this rectangle has a closed edge or 'hinge fold' on the right.

Step 3

Bring the top left point, front flap only, down and to the right so the top edge comes to rest on the hinge fold on the right. Crease well and leave folded.

Step 4

Bring the bottom left point, front flap only, up and to the right so the bottom edge comes to rest on the hinge fold on the right. Crease well and leave folded.

Result - The initial front rectangular flap is now transformed into a triangular flap carrying two small triangular flaps which are edge to edge.

Step 5

Flip the model over from right to left.

The hinge fold is now on the left.

Step 6

Bring the top right point, front flap only, down and to the left so the top edge comes to rest on the hinge fold on the left. Crease well and leave folded.

Step 7

Bring the bottom right point, front flap only, up and to the left so the bottom edge comes to rest on the hinge fold on the left. Crease well and leave folded.

Result - We now have a triangular shape of quadruple thickness, made up of two flaps linked by a vertical hinge fold on the left. These two flaps each carry two triangular flaps.

Step 8

Bring the top right edge of the triangle, the top layer only, so it comes to rest on the hinge fold on the left.

Crease and leave folded.

Step 9

Flip the model over from right to left.

Step 10

Bring the top left edge of the triangle, the top layer only, so it comes to rest on the hinge fold on the right.

Crease and leave folded.

Result - We obtain a triangular shape with a thin point upwards, bordered by a long vertical hinge fold on the right with two loose flaps on the left.

Step 11

Pick up the model from your folding surface and open it by rotating the point at the back of the figure, around the hinge fold toward the right.

Result - You should now have a kite shape, with its narrow point facing away from you and two loose flaps meeting each other along the vertical center of the figure.

Step 12

Next, turn the kite shape 90 degrees to the left, so that the sharp point now faces to the left.

Result - Your model will now have two long triangles on the left, with their two flaps meeting each other along a horizontal line.

On the right, there will be a third triangle composed of only two layers of paper.

The two triangles on the left will be separated from the one on the right by a vertical line, which will be important for the next step.

Step 13

Pick up your model and, using a mountain fold, fold the right point of the model along the vertical line, away from you and to the left, so it disappears behind the two triangles on the left.

Result - We obtain a long triangle, its narrow point is facing left, made up of two flaps, one at the top and another at the bottom. These flaps are divided by a horizontal line.

Step 14

Now, fold the unit in half by using a valley fold, bringing the top edge to meet the bottom edge.

Crease well and leave folded.

  Result - The completed unit is made up of a triangle with a very tapered point on the left while the   right side of the unit widens into a vertical edge.

It has two thick flaps, linked by an upper horizontal hinge fold. You will also notice a small triangle on the front and back of the unit. This triangle is like a diagonal pocket you can put your finger into. 

Lastly, the two flaps will tend to open slightly and will form a front and back point at the bottom right corner of the unit.

On the top right of the unit,  along the hinge fold , there are two pockets, located on either side of the triangular shape.

These pockets open from the top and will be where the points of  new units will be inserted.

Step 15

Important: This step is only needed if you will be choosing Assembly Method 2 below.

To complete your unit for Assembly Method 2, imagine that there is a horizontal line drawn along the top edge or hinge fold of your unit. It starts at the top right corner of the unit, moving to the left, and ends at the first crease line you come across.

To make the one extra fold, take the bottom right point, top layer only, and fold it away from you so  it comes to rest at the halfway point along this line.

Put in another way, take the bottom point of the unit, the front flap only, and fold it diagonally upwards to meet the top edge. You are aiming for a point that will be halfway between the right point of the unit and the first diagonal crease you encounter when moving toward the left.

Crease well and unfold.

Your unit will be similar for both assembly methods, except for the one extra diagonal crease you have just created.

PHASE 2: FOLD MORE SIMILAR UNITS

For Assembly Method 1, repeat steps 1 to 14 15 more times so you have 16 similarly shaped units to work with.

For Assembly Method 2, repeat steps 1 to 15 15 more times so you have 16 similarly shaped units to work with.

PHASE 3: ASSEMBLING YOUR MODEL

Assembly Method 1

Step 15

Hold one module in a horizontal position, with the narrow tip to the left and the hinge fold at the top.

The two triangular pockets will be on the right with their openings at the top of the unit.

Step 16

Holding a second module in the same orientation as the first, place  it with the two right points just above the two pockets of the first module.

Step 17

Insert the two tips as far as possible into the two pockets.

The two modules will be joined at an angle of  22.5 degrees.

Step 18

Keep adding units using the same steps as described above, each time inserting two points into two pockets of a previous unit.

A circle will gradually start to form.

The more units you add, the more difficult it might become to keep the model together as a whole.

It is thus suggested that you either use a dab of glue during this assembly method or assemble groups of 4 units at a time and perhaps attach them to a flat surface like a card with glue.

Step 19

Gently bring together and join the last unit to the first to complete the circle.

Your star is finished!

Assembly Method 2

Step 16

Hold one module in a horizontal position, with the narrow tip to the left and the hinge fold at the top.

On the top right of the unit,  along the hinge fold , there are two pockets, of which only the back pocket will be used for this assembly.

On the front of the unit, notice that there are another pocket that has a diagonal opening, and in the opposite direction, from bottom left to top right, there will be the extra fold line you will use for this assembly.

Step 17

 Holding a second module in the same orientation as the first, undo Step 14 above, opening your unit by bringing the bottom edge, the top layer only, to the top.

 The opened unit will be a larger triangle that has an upper and a lower flap that is divided by a horizontal opening.

Step 18

Now, insert the right, bottom tip of the second unit into the back pocket of the first.

Make sure it is inserted all the way.

The two modules will be joined at an angle of  22.5 degrees.

Step 19

Open module 1, nearest you in the same way as you did for module 2.

Both the units will be open at this point and unit 1 will be lying on top of unit 2.

Step 20

Locate the top point of unit 1 and the horizontal opening of unit 2 just behind it.

Using the existing diagonal crease you created when folding your unit, make a mountain fold, tucking the tip of unit 1 inside the flap just behind it. Press flat.

The tip of Unit 1 will disappear inside the opening of unit 2 and this  fold will  lock the two units together.

Try to make your fold so that it lines up with the horizontal fold of the unit above it, in this case, unit two.

Step 21

Now, close unit two by folding it back in half  towards you. This will enclose unit 1 and expose the  two pockets along the top hinge fold of the module so that you will be able to insert another unit.

Step 22

Keep adding units using the same steps , taking care to open, insert and lock units in the sequence described above.

A circle will gradually start to form

Step 23

Gently bring together and join the last unit to the first to complete the circle.

Step 24

Check that all units have been joined securely and locked into place and that your folds are all pressed flat before turning the figure over to reveal your beautiful sixteen-point star.

Making origami accessible to visually impaired crafters through text instructions.

for non-commercial use only.

Compiled by Lindy van der Merwe, June 2023

 

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